Bttrgharpbooii satchel



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,700

V. A. SMITH BURGLARPROOF SATCHEL 4 Filed Sept. 11, 1928 Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES VIRGIL A. SMITH, 0F KENEDY, TEXAS.

BUBGLARPROOF SATCHEL.

Application filed September 11, 1928. Serial No. 305,304.

vThis invention relates to a device for foiling the attempts of a highwayman to obtaln the contents of a Satchel, the device being particularly designed for use in connection with satchels carried by bank runners.

The primary object of this invention 1S to provide a Satchel Structure and time-controlled bomb associated therewith which is designed to foil the attempts of an unauthorized person to get to the contents of the bag by scattering, by meansof an explosive after a predetermined periodof time, a suitable chemical, such as an acid or tear gas, which will overcome or otherwise hinder the escape of such person.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of'a Satchel having a framework of relatively small mesh wire over which suitable covering material is placed/the covering material being of a light character so that it may be easily ripped away from the frame. Within the frame upon a suitable mounting, there is secured a bomb containing the chemical and also containing an explosive charge..

Connected with the explosive charge is a time fuse which is designed to be ignited through suitable means by the custodian of the Satchel when the Satchel is taken away from him.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of theabovedescribed char-- acter which will be of simple construction, dependable and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this speci- Afication, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the Satchel, the Same being partly broken away showing the application ofthe mechanism embodying a part of the presentinvention thereto;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail Sectional view of the mechanism per se.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the 11utheproper time, of the materials designed to A overcome o1' otherwise assist in the capture of an unauthorized person attempting to -reach the interior of the bag.

Within the bag, there is mounted, either at the side or upon the bottom thereof, a supporting Structure 5, this structure being 1n the form of the rectangular frame havinga plurality of longitudinally extending bars 6 and cross-connecting bars 7.

Mounted upon the Structure 5 is the bomb and iiring mechanism therefor, the bomb being indicated by the numeral 8. The bomb comprises a casing designed to contain a Suit'- able material, such as tear gas, acid or the like, and within the casing is a shell 9 carried at one end upon the casing head or cover 10.

Attached at one end to the cover plate is a fuse tube 11, the outer end of this tube being formed to receive a firing cap 12 to which the fuse is attached, the fuse being indicated by the numeral 13. The fuse 13 extends through the tube 11 and through a suitable aperture 1n the cap 10 to the Shell 9 which is charged with `a suitable explosive, such as black powder or the like. The bomb 8 is rigidly mounted upon the structure 5 and secured to the structure in alignment with the fuse casing 11 is a pair of spaced guide brackets 14 and 15 through which there extends, for reciprocation toward and away from the fuse cap 12, the iring pin 16. The pointed end 17 -of the ring pin is directed to the center of the fuse 12 and, under the proper conditions, is forcibly projected thereagainst by the coil spring 18 by which it is surrounded, one end of this coil spring pressing against the bracket 14:, While the other end presses against the collar 19 carried by the pin between the brackets. The opposite end of the firing pin 16 carries a laterally projecting lug 2O which, when the device is set, is engaged by a similar lug 21 carried by a latch arm 22.

' The latch arm 22 is resiliently mounted at its opposite end, as indicated at 23,150 that it normally holds itself in substantial alignment with the firing pin 16. Carried by the latch 22, adjacent the free end thereof, is a rigid link 24, which extends to and is secured to a release button 25 arranged exteriorly of the bag mout-h frame 1 in a position convenient to the thumb of a person having a hold upon the handle 2.

When in use, for example, by the runner of a bank, after money or other valubles is placed in the bag, the firing pin 16 is drawn, back against the tension of the spring 18 until the lug 20 engages over the lug 21 of the latch 22. The bag is then locked and turned over to the carrier for transportation to its destination. 1f, during the course of transportation, the carrier is held up, he will immediately press the button 25, thus releasing the firing pin 16, Which strikes and fires the cap 12, which in turn, ignites the fuse 13. The fuse 13 may be of a character to burn a period of two or three minutes. The wire mesh frame structure ofthe bag will thus foil the attempts of the highwayman to reach the contents thereof until the fuse has burned down to the bomb. Upon reaching the powder within the bomb, the same will be exploded, thus rupturing the outer casing 8 in which the chemical is placed and blowing the same through the mesh frame of the bag onto the person attemptingr to get thereinto.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that a device ofthe above described character will be valuable in assistingin the capture of persons attempting to steal valuables.

1. A protective device of the character described for satchels, comprising a bomb designed to contain an over-powering chemical and adapted to be mounted in a satchel, and means releasable from the exterior of the satchel designed to discharge said bomb after a predetermined period of time.

2. A protective device of the character'described for satchels, comprising a bomb designed to be mounted within the Satchel and to contain an overpowering chemical, means for exploding said bomb including a time fuse and a cap connected thereto, and means operable from the exterior of the satchel for tiring said cap to ignite the fuse.

3. A device of the character described comprising a satchel having a foraminous lining, an overpowering liquid chemical container mounted Within the Satchel, an explosive charge within said container,.time-controlled means for igniting said explosive charge, and means operable from the exterior of the bag for actuating said control means.

4. An article of the character described comprising a satchel having a Yforaminous lining, means for mounting an explosive charge within said Satchel, a time fuse connected to said charge, means for igniting said fuse and a reciprocable element controllable\ from the exterior of the satchel for activating said fuse igniting means.

5. A device of the character described com prising a satchel having a foraminous metal lining, a supporting structure within the Satchel, a bomb carried by said structure, a time fuse connected to said bomb, a firing cap connected to said fuse, a reciprocablc tiring pin mounted upon the structure and positioned to activate said cap, and a latch element operable from the exterior of the Satchel for releasing the firing pin to act upon the cap.

6. In a device of the character described, a receptacle, a cap detachably closing said receptacle, a closed cylinder detachably secured at one end to the inner face of said cap to project into the receptacle, said cap having an aperture formed therethrough and opening into the attached cylinder, a casing exteriorlyof the cap and having said opening leading thereinto, a firing cap within said casing, a fuse leading from said cap through the aperture of the casing cap into said cylinder to a body of powder therein, and means for setting oit said firing cap, said receptacle being designed to contain a liquid.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

VIRGIL A. SMITH. 

